High di/dt Pulse Switching of Thyristors

The fast pulse switching behavior of center-fired ring-and-dot and interdigitated thyristors was studied by switching 8 to 10 μs, 1000 to 1600 A peak (at 800 V) pulses. Single-shot switching was performed up to 15 400 A/μs, and repetitive switching at 500 and 800 Hz at various di/dt levels, including 13 000 A/μs, for up to ten hours. No damage to the devices resulted from the single-shot switching stresses.